(19)
(11) EP 1 172 801 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/05

(43) Date of publication A2:
16.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/03

(21) Application number: 01103277.8

(22) Date of filing: 13.02.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G10K 11/30
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 13.07.2000 JP 2000212453

(71) Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Kadoma-shi, Osaka-fu, 571-8501 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Saito, Koetsu
    Tokyo 164-0003 (JP)
  • Fukase, Hirokazu
    Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 212-0055 (JP)

(74) Representative: Schwarzensteiner, Marie-Luise, Dr. et al
Grape & Schwarzensteiner Patentanwälte Sebastiansplatz 7
80331 München
80331 München (DE)

   


(54) Ultrasonic probe and method of manufacturing the same


(57) An ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric element (1) for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and an acoustic lens (3) provided on an ultrasonic transmission/reception side of the piezoelectric element (1). The acoustic lens (3) is formed in an acoustic lens shape by vulcanization formation through addition of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-t-butyl peroxy hexane as a vulcanizing agent to a composition prepared by addition of silica (SiO2) particles in an amount of 40 wt% to 50 wt% to silicone rubber with a dimethylpolysiloxane structure including vinyl groups. Thus, the ultrasonic transmission and reception sensitivity is improved and the degradation in frequency characteristics is diminished. Consequently, higher resolution of an ultrasonic image and higher sensitivity can be achieved.






Search report